Accidental Lady Godiva seeks cover up

Dear Annie: I am a 30-year-old married woman. My husband, “Tom,” and I recently spent a week at an extremely secluded cabin near a stream. About midway through the week, Tom had an appointment with an old friend who lived in the area, so I was left alone. Since the cabin was completely isolated, I decided to forgo my swimsuit and sunbathe in the nude.

After a few minutes, a couple of fishermen appeared suddenly. They were both elderly gentlemen who were apparently working their way down the stream. I had not remotely anticipated this intrusion. Unfortunately, my robe was too far away to reach without getting out of the chair. I said lamely, “Catch anything?” They both laughed and got quite an eyeful as they stood watching me get up to put on my robe and walk, highly embarrassed, back into the cabin.

I later learned that one of the men was the owner’s father-in-law, and soon the story of the “naked lady” was making the rounds. The owner jokingly told me that I made the old guys’ day and apparently, I’ve become a legend in the area.

I didn’t tell Tom about this, and now he is talking about renting the same cabin next year. I don’t want to go back, knowing people might remember me, but I don’t want to tell Tom, either. He’s a wonderful husband but funny about this sort of thing. What should I do? — Karen in Illinois

Dear Karen: We’re glad you seem to have a sense of humor about this, and we think you should tell Tom, especially if his old friend lives in the area and might spill the beans. However, if you are reluctant to mention the incident to him, simply say you didn’t enjoy the cabin as much as you had anticipated and would prefer to go somewhere else next time. He doesn’t need to know you are Lady Godiva.

Dear Annie: Over a year ago, I lent a large sum of money to a coworker, who promised to return it upon receiving her annual bonus. Of course, she never did. Even though I needed the money, I dreaded asking “Sue” to pay it back because I felt it might jeopardize our friendship. However, when she recently told me she signed up for karate lessons, I suddenly found it easy to confront her. Sue promised to repay me with her next paycheck but has found excuses to avoid me ever since.

We were friends outside of work, and Sue has told me how controlling and explosive her husband is over money. Now she apparently has fabricated a story to other coworkers as to why she is avoiding me, and some of them believe her.

Should I confront her husband, whom she fears, or just write it off to my stupidity? Needless to say, our friendship is history. I don’t want a friend who lies and steals from me. — Paid the Price in Seattle

Dear Paid: Leave the husband out of it. Sue is the one who behaved dishonestly. Unless you want to drag her to small claims court, you’ll have to chalk this up to experience. Meanwhile, tell Sue if she doesn’t stop spreading lies about you to your coworkers, you will be forced to tell them the truth.

Dear Annie: I’m writing in response to “Cautious in California,” the woman who suspects her husband is cheating but doesn’t want to confront him.

When my husband of 17 years began behaving oddly, I asked him repeatedly if he was seeing someone else. He always responded, “No, of course not.” He readily agreed to counseling, and it took five months before he admitted he’d been having an affair the entire time.

Annie, I wish I’d followed your suggestion and hired a private detective. It would have been worth the money to know for sure and protect my sanity. — Texas

Dear Texas: Thanks for the testimonial. We hope things are better now.